Ca'hal was speaking with Telstaitcius,
"And why must you have this food?"
"Because, it is very important to our people, it's involved in many ritual meals such as births and deaths, even weddings. It has been a traditional food for eight hundred years. Our chefs have discovered amazing ways of boiling it, it tastes like...pure adult pleasure."
Ca'hal swallowed hard.
"I see, well I have to ask you, seven months, that's all we are asking for, give us seven months to find another supply."
"That is far to long, we only have enough to last three months, so we attack in two months."
Ca'hal thought of the Sith Rian mentioned on the planet.
"What about the Sith on the planet?"
"What about them?"
"Aren't you worried about the threat they'll cause?"
"They have not been a concern! How foolish I have been!"
"I'm glad your thinking straight!"
"I'll need bounty hunters!"
"What?"
"Bounty hunters! They'll help us defeat the Sith."
"I must disagree! Bounty Hunters are bad news!"
"As bad as they are, Sith are worse! But with several hunters in every assault squad we'll have less of a problem."
"In history a single Sith defeated ten Bounty Hunters! How many do you intend on hiring?"
"Many...but that will be expensive, very expensive."
"Why don't you spend a few months gathering funds for the war effort?"
"Ah...your Jedi mind tricks won't work on me!"
"I didn't do a Jedi mind trick!"
"I can tell you are powerful."
"I'm not using the force."
"I can feel the pressure your putting on my brain."
"I'm really not using the force." He wasn't, that's the thing.
"Shhtop your lying Jedi! I can feel it!"
"Is your speech okay? You lisped a bit there."
"I ish fine, a little brain dead from your tricks but okay."
"I really didn't do any tricks." He was starting to tire from the Zabrak's insistence that he was taking liberties with the force. Vi' Ki sat there wondering what was happening.
"I will retire to my room now, I will sleep on your request. You have the luxuries of my land to entertain you."
The tired Zabrak retired for the night, Ca'hal turned to Vi' Ki.
"That's very...odd."
"Eh...yeah."
"I think someone else might have been here." Ca'hal looked upwards, there were many balconies up close to the ceiling.
"Could a Sith have been using mind tricks."
"It's very possible, but I should have sensed it."
"Unless he was very powerful in the force."
"Possible I suppose. But unlikely, Sith rarely use the force in that manner outside reading minds."
"Maybe there's something in his drink."
"That's a theory."
"He had a lot."
"He could be drunk."
"No, he was too polite to be drunk."
"Oh, you never know, old men these days. He's a rather odd fellow for an Iridonian isn't he?"
"Yes, the battle seemed to matter little, it was getting the food and helping the people he cared for."
"Yes, The Iridonians love battle."
"We have a lot of work to do. Something isn't right about this man."
"I shall meditate on it." This was a time when Ca'hal missed Rian's company; Rian would have meditated for a stupidly long amount of time on something like this.
Rian would also like the people on this planet, warriors with bloodlust.
Ca'hal had spoken to many Iridonians since he arrived three days ago, and they all seemed to be completely normal for Iridonians, they were dark brooding characters that enjoyed combat. But Telstaitcius was still out of place; he didn't seem to be Iridonian. Sometimes he seemed to be an individual and sometimes under the thrall of some great power. He had taken the care to interview the staff in the kitchen. The wine had seemed safe, and they all had tested fine when he probed their minds. He was sure that something was amiss. He took a trip to the king's bedchamber. He had opened the door to a crack, and was about to slip through when one of the servant girls turned the corner. He quickly tried to distance himself from the door, but she had seen him. She was gracious enough not to pry, the mark of very extensive training.
"Sorry sir," she said, "I didn't know that Telstaitcius was expecting company." Ca' hal had the better judgement not to lie when she had trusted that his intensions were good.
"I didn't either," he joked, "I was just looking for him. Has he been seen today?"
"Oh no sir, he is never disturbed on this day. He eats almost solidly for six days, and then sleeps on the seventh. He is never disturbed. He must rest." Ca' hal was taken slightly aback.
"Does all of your race do this?"
"No sir, just him."
"Is there any reason why he treats himself like this? If one of our race did that they'd be almost dead within a month!"
"With all respect sir, your race is weak. He does this as a testament to his own endurance. It prepares him for any unforeseen result of battle. He changes his routine every 3 years, last time he lay under a slab of steel for 5 hours straight every week, and ate nothing but the war provisions. One would say that he is now making up for lost time."
"So when can I speak to him?"
"I will ask him to see you next time I see him. He likes to surprise those who wish to talk to him."
"I see, thank you." He turned and walked down the hallway, until she was out of sight. Then he turned back and snuck into the chamber. The room was dark, and he had to rely on the force to guide him around for almost a minute. When his eyes had adjusted, he could see a great many shawls draped over the furniture. The carpet was thick and clean, and as he raised his eyes from it, he saw the four-poster bed. The curtains were semi-transparent, and beyond them he saw the bulging silhouette of the Zabrak. His stomach was bloated, but he seemed to be in a deep sleep. It put Ca' hal in mind of hibernation. He knew that there would be some kind of cleaner or maid in to check up on him sooner or later, (there always was in these situations), so he conducted his search as quickly as he could.
Later the next day he sat in a workers canteen waiting for Vi' ki. When she finally came she had a smug face.
"What deserves the smile?"
"I think I might know why the King was acting so strange!"
"And that would be?"
"He's going through withdrawal."
"And why is he doing that."
"After he left yesterday I took the cup he was drinking from and had his saliva compared with old Saliva and guess what was found, or wasn't found?"
"I really don't know."
"Crontian Melweed."
"That's the food that the Selations are providing! But if that's the case why aren't all the Iridonians like this."
"Well yes, but its not actually food it's a smoking herb, It causes the user to feel really relaxed. And as for the king only being strange, he's one of this planets eight province kings, the kings or queens smoke the stuff everyday because they can afford it."
"Well done Vi' ki!"
"Thank you." Vi' ki's smile grew and she sat back and put her hands behind her head.
"That probably is what's wrong." Vi' ki heard this and leaned forward with a scowl.
"What do you mean probably of course it is!"
"I think you're partly right, but there is still something not totally adding up."
"Well, we better get on with finding out what it is."
"I agree." The two went around investigating for the day and eventually made an interesting discovery; King Telstaitcius wasn't an official king, he was a make shift replacement who was never replaced with a proper king.
When Ca'hal discovered this he went to some local places that would have perfectly acceptable king, he found an Iridonian named Kel Stulash. Ca'hal spoke to many people and they all said that Kel should challenge Telstaitcius. Ca'hal agreed to this and led the way to the palace (Not that he needed to, any clown could tell a Iridonian palace from other buildings.)
When Kel, Ca'hal and several others entered the throne room Kel made the challenge.
He pointed a finger at Telstaitcius and shouted.
"I Kel Stulash of the blood bearer clan challenge this fool for his place as province king."
Ca'hal leaned over to a Kel supporter and asked.
"What is the challenge exactly?"
"A fight to the death."
"I wish I knew that earlier." As everyone watched, Telstaitcius picked up a huge broadsword, ran at Kel and shouted.
"Die Blood bearer!" Kel didn't move as the king ran at him, the King was feet from Kel before he reacted, he pulled out a blaster from behind him, shot the king and dived to the side, the blast tore through the kings chest and the hulking beast fell to the floor.
People cheered as Kel sat on the throne, after a few moments of sitting down some palace staff came through the doors and announced the new king.
"I declare that the province of Stennci has a new king...KING KEL STULASH!"
People gave a huge cheer, Kel asked for quiet and he looked at the Jedi who had brought him to his state of royalty.
"How can I repay you?"
"How about not attacking the Selations for awhile?"
"How long do you need?"
"Seven months."
"You have one year, but then we march to crush that weak race."
"I suppose that's sort of fair."
Later that day Vi' ki came bursting through the doors to Ca'hal's room.
"Here, proof that my theory is proven, one hundred percent proven to be right!"
She shoved some papers with information into Ca'hal's face.
"That doesn't really matter anymore!"
"WHAT?"
"There's a new king."
"Who? How?"
"Kel Stulash, Lets just say nasty information came to light." Vi' ki felt crushed, her hard work didn't really matter anymore. She went to her room and just collapsed onto the bed.
"Its just not fair." She repeated this until she fell asleep. The two had small things to do before they left and they were there for a few days before they were summoned by the council to join many others on the Selation planet. They could get there a few hours before anyone else because they were closer, so they headed off straight away after asking a favour from the king.